Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Biotics (probiotics - prebiotics - symbiotics) - The gut contains billions of bacteria,
some friendly others not so friendly. This symbiotic relationship has a mutual benefit
- the bacteria receive an endless supply of nutrients on which they thrive and in
return they assist in the day to day functioning of the digestive and immune system.
Symbiosis is a biological relationship in which two species live in close proximity
to each other and interact regularly in such a way as to benefit one or both of the
organisms. When both partners benefit, this variety of symbiosis is known as mutualism.
Although the nature of the symbiotic relationship that exists is not fully understood
it is known that the good bacteria performs a number of essential roles such as:
Assists the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Assists the digestion of essential nutrients.
Breaking down toxins.
Discouraging the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria.
Probiotics
Probiotics are dietary supplements and live microorganisms containing potentially
beneficial bacteria or yeasts.
Live microorganisms when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit
on the host.
Strains of the general Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are the most widely used
probiotic bacteria.
Probiotic bacterial cultures are intended to assist the body's naturally occurring
gut flora, an ecology of microbes, to re-establish themselves.
Maintenance of a healthy gut flora is, however, dependent on many factors, especially
the quality of food intake.
Prebiotics
Non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively
stimulating the growth and - or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in
the colon, and by so doing improve host health. Any foodstuffs, most commonly found
in fruit and vegetables, that promotes the growth of good bacteria in the bowel is
a prebiotic.
A supplement that contains both a prebiotic and a probiotic that work together to
improve the “friendly flora” of the human intestine. Fermented milks - yogurt and
kefir - are considered to be true symbiotic products, that is, functional foods,
since they supply the live bacteria and the food they need to survive. Not all such
products promote symbiosis. The best symbiotic combinations currently available include:
Bifidobacteria + fructo-oligosaccharides - FOS.
Lactobacillus GG + inulins.
Bifidobacteria + Lactobacilli + FOS or inulins.
The main reason for using a symbiotic is that a true probiotic, without its prebiotic
food, does not survive well in the digestive system. To enhance viability in the
colon, the product must allow for much greater attachment and growth rate of the
healthy bacteria in order to minimize the growth of harmful bacteria.
Without the necessary food source for the probiotic, it will have a greater intolerance
for oxygen, low pH, and temperature. In addition, the probiotic will have to compete
against other bacteria that will take over if its specific food source is not available.
A symbiotic product - probiotic + prebiotic - may be a better choice.
Symbosis - "The living together of unlike organisms" - Pathogenic bacteria Bacteria
that cause infectious diseases. the vast majority of bacteria are harmless or beneficial,
however quite a few bacteria are pathogenic.
Mutualism - A positive reciprocal relationship between two species. Through this
relationship both species enhance their survival, growth or fitness.
Fructo-oligosaccharides FOS - are found in many vegetables, they consist of short
chains of fructose molecules. When oligosaccharides are consumed, the undigested
portion serves as food for “friendly” bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus
species.
Tannock G (editor). (2005). Probiotics and Prebiotics: Scientific Aspects (1st ed.
ed.). Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-01-8 .
FAO/WHO (2001) Health and Nutritional Properties of Probiotics in Food including
Powder Milk with Live Lactic Acid Bacteria. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation
on Evaluation of Health and Nutritional Properties of Probiotics in Food Including
Powder Milk with Live Lactic Acid Bacteria.
Ljungh A, Wadstrom T (editors) (2009). Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics
to Probiotics. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-41-7.
Gibson GR, Roberfroid MB. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing
the concept of prebiotics. J Nutr. 1995 Jun;125(6):1401-12. PMID
